This second book in the "Intervention" series was not as good as the first - it was nice to see a Christian author tackle the very real problem of druThis second book in the "Intervention" series was not as good as the first - it was nice to see a Christian author tackle the very real problem of drug abuse/addiction/recovery but this book was more about a mystery than recovery. There were very good threads started, like when the character just out of rehab, explores AA meetings, but it went nowhere. I guess you need guns and a race against time to sell books. Disappointing...more

I tried - this book was well-written but held absolutely no interest for me. The conflict in the book seemed pretty superficial and whatever passed foI tried - this book was well-written but held absolutely no interest for me. The conflict in the book seemed pretty superficial and whatever passed for drama was yawn-worthy. It's a shame I have others by her that I feel I have to try....more

Frankly I was disappointed. I've always enjoyed Erynn Mangum's books in the past but this was a pretty uneven attempt at a young adult/crime solving sFrankly I was disappointed. I've always enjoyed Erynn Mangum's books in the past but this was a pretty uneven attempt at a young adult/crime solving story. It's already been done (check out Melody Carlson's Samantha McGregor series) and it just wasn't very believable. There is no way a 16-year old would be put in this situation regardless of how talented she is and after going through 200 pages of "mystery", to have it wrapped up in a page and a half was very unsatisfying....more

Unfortunately, it is your typical Christian romance. It glamorizes Alzheimer's disease (all sufferers are not cute and comical) and doesn't delve deepUnfortunately, it is your typical Christian romance. It glamorizes Alzheimer's disease (all sufferers are not cute and comical) and doesn't delve deeply into the personalities of any of its characters. I find it very difficult to believe that someone who is visiting their mother for the first time in years on the event of her inevitable death would be caught up in a whirlwind romance. In my experience, grief monopolizes your time.

It is fairly well written for its type so might be appealing to those who want a quick read....more

**spoiler alert** More of the same from Melody Carlson. Unfortunately, she is getting a bit predictable. She used to be on the cutting edge of Christi**spoiler alert** More of the same from Melody Carlson. Unfortunately, she is getting a bit predictable. She used to be on the cutting edge of Christian fiction, addressing topics that other authors in the genre shied away from. One positive about this book is that it did a good job of addressing the aftermath of the "Very Traumatic Event" - you very rarely read about the court case for example. Still, I wish I didn't feel like she dashes off two to three young adult books a year just to make some money....more

**spoiler alert** Karen Kingsbury continues to be probably the most-read and well-loved Christian fiction writer and you can tell why by reading this**spoiler alert** Karen Kingsbury continues to be probably the most-read and well-loved Christian fiction writer and you can tell why by reading this book - it's like ice cream - it's smooth and it just slides down your throat with minimal effort. I continue to read but luckily her books are available in the public library because they are not worth the $10.00 to buy them.

By the third page I was wincing a bit... she used the phrase "in addition" twice in the same paragraph. It's either poor writing or poor editing - whichever, perhaps publishing a book every three months is too much when you want to produce a quality product.

I gave up reading another one of her books because she preached about how wonderful and "right" it was that the US was fighting a war in Iraq... this one I almost tossed aside because she preaches about how true Christians would be vocal against homosexuality. I wouldn't mind it so much (although I don't agree) if she wouldn't use one dimensional characters (Gerald) and a really poor plot device (how in the world does Bailey have time to dance 8 times a week on Broadway and do all the other things, like lead a Bible study and run around New York with her boyfriend?) to advance her agenda. Apparently Kingsbury has never watched "The West Wing" and thus heard the argument that the Old Testament has a lot to say on a lot of issues (including touching pig skin) and you cannot pick and choose which ones you want to hold up as absolute. Her plot B, high school football, is lovely irony.

If you are looking for shiny, happy people and Christians who hardly ever struggle with anything significant (Cody is a marvelous character who becomes THE high school football coach - a la "Friday Night Lights - by ignoring religious freedom and overcoming PTSD and a mother in prison for drugs so easily and quickly) this is your book. If you prefer a little more depth and realism, check out Melody Carlson's older, stand-alone fiction or something by Jamie Langston Turner....more

I'm a big fan of Susan Meissner's contemporary fiction (not so much of a fan of her historical fiction) but I found it very, very hard to stay connectI'm a big fan of Susan Meissner's contemporary fiction (not so much of a fan of her historical fiction) but I found it very, very hard to stay connected with this story. The main problem is that the focus of the novel is the house, not the characters living in the house during the present day (although they had interesting back-stories that would have been fun to explore more deeply) and the possibility that there were ghosts or curses attached to it. I have to give Meissner credit for attacking such a controversial topic in a novel geared for the Christian market but I felt that she didn't make it "real" enough to capture our attention (and again, that may have been deliberate to be able to market this book to Christians). I finally gave up about half-way through and wished that I was reading more about family dysfunction and whether or not this second marriage could survive, house or not house.

It probably didn't help that I read "The Lost Quilter" immediately before reading this book and Jennifer Chiaverni's emotional writing about the Civil War and slavery in general was much more powerful and real to me. Made "The Sound Among the Trees" seem trite and shallow....more

Superb debut novel! I liked the fact that the author tackled issues that are still too rarely found in "Christian" fiction and although the ending wasSuperb debut novel! I liked the fact that the author tackled issues that are still too rarely found in "Christian" fiction and although the ending was disappointing, I enjoyed the journey. ...more

A very brave 2nd book for Christa Allan. I put off reading the last 25 pages because I was afraid of how it might end but I didn't need to worry. It wA very brave 2nd book for Christa Allan. I put off reading the last 25 pages because I was afraid of how it might end but I didn't need to worry. It was excellent. Without giving too much away, if you enjoyed Karen Kingsbury's Bailey series and agreed 100% with her theology, don't pick up this book. It will frustrate you to no end. If, on the other hand, you are disturbed by the current trend of agreeing that being a homosexual is not a sin as long as celibacy is practiced (condemning an entire segment of society to a passionless and lonely life), this is the book for you. Very satisfying and thought-provoking. ...more

Each chapter features a different Baxter family member and is basically a retelling of the book that the character appeared in previously. Blaugh. MorEach chapter features a different Baxter family member and is basically a retelling of the book that the character appeared in previously. Blaugh. More happy, shining people who speak in platitudes with no depth.

Thankfully I think this is the last of this series and I will never again take a Kingsbury book out of the library. Really....more

This was the sequel to "Grounded" - basically the same story told from the perspective of two other characters. I didn't enjoy it very much, possiblyThis was the sequel to "Grounded" - basically the same story told from the perspective of two other characters. I didn't enjoy it very much, possibly because I'm spoiled and like shiny/new things....more